C-Lodop: Unquoted Search Path or Element
CVE-2025-4540 is a high-severity unquoted search path or element vulnerability in C-Lodop from MTSoftware, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.0 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. Affected C-Lodop versions: 6.6.1.1. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.34% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of C-Lodop you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| MTSoftware | C-Lodop | 6.6.1.1 | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- HighSuccess depends on conditions outside the attacker's control.
- Privileges required
- LowA basic user account is enough.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (vuldb.com).
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 7.3 | High | CNA (vuldb.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 7.0 | High | CNA (vuldb.com) |
| CVSS 2.0 | 6.0 | Medium | CNA (vuldb.com) |
Official description
A vulnerability was found in MTSoftware C-Lodop 6.6.1.1 on Windows. It has been rated as critical. This issue affects some unknown processing of the component CLodopPrintService. The manipulation leads to unquoted search path. The attack needs to be approached locally. The complexity of an attack is rather high. The exploitation is known to be difficult. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. Upgrading to version 6.6.13 is able to address this issue. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Unquoted Search Path or Element
The product uses a search path that contains an unquoted element, in which the element contains whitespace or other separators. This can cause the product to access resources in a parent path.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Properly quote the full search path before executing a program on the system.
- Inputs should be decoded and canonicalized to the application's current internal representation before being validated (CWE-180). Make sure that the application does not decode the same input twice (CWE-174). Such errors could be used to bypass allowlist validation schemes by introducing dangerous inputs after they have been checked.
More Unquoted Search Path or Element vulnerabilities (CWE-428)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: poc, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Third-party and government advisories
- vuldb.com/?id.308285Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
- vuldb.com/?submit.566789Third Party Advisory, VDB Entry
Technical write-ups (may include proof of concept)
- 0nightsedge0.github.io/2025/05/14/CVE-2025-4540-C-Lodop/Exploit, Third Party Advisory
Other references
- vuldb.com/?ctiid.308285Permissions Required, VDB Entry
Recent Unquoted Search Path or Element vulnerabilities
- 7.3 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
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